Darlington Rotary Triathlon

Entries for the popular Darlington Rotary Triathlon at Branksome on Sunday 8^th May are rapidly approaching the limit of 150 competitors.

This event involves a 400 metre swim in the school pool, a 16 mile bike ride around country lanes and a 3 mile run through the local park. It is an ideal event for both beginners and the more experienced athletes wishing to prepare for the triathlon season.

With the roads closed to all traffic and a large number of marshals along the route, this is a safe starting event for newcomers and we promise plenty of vocal encouragement to help you get to the finish in good spirits. Electronic timing has been introduced for the first time and as soon as you finish you will be able to get your race time and split times.

Log on here to enter, or visit the event website for further details including pictures, results and comments from previous years.

The Ashington Sprint Triathlon is a relatively new event on the North East circuit and in the last two years, its popularity has soared. Today’s race was no exception with 270 entrants taking part, many of whom it was their first ever triathlon. From seasoned to novice athletes a like, it could not have been a better day with the sun beaming through and temperatures building up in to the late teens.

A 400m pool swim, followed by a stamina sapping hilly bike route and flat fast 5k run awaited the athletes, which included the overall event winners from 2010. Could they repeat their victories this year? Only time would tell.

In the men’s race, from the off, the race looked like it would be close, as three athletes exited the water within two seconds of each other. Tyne Tri’s Philip Aiston, and Ryton Tri’s junior athlete Callum Johnson, exited the water together in a blistering, 4.53 with Alan Copland (pictured) of the newly formed RedVenom.co.uk team, following in 4.55. That group were almost 30 seconds ahead of the chasers as they entered T1.

But the chasers were not content to let the three leaders run away with the race and so on the bike positions were set to change. Copland’s RedVenom.co.uk team mate Elliot Gowland and David Barker of Tri Northumberland who were first and second at Peterlee one week earlier, pushed the pace to move into 2nd and 3rd positions. Copland was also riding strongly so pushed on to move into the lead. As they entered T2, however, there were still four athletes in contention as Johnson was still in the frame.

Copland did not look to be slowing down on the run actually increasing his lead over Barker and Gowland. In doing so, he ran away to victory in 54.17. Meanwhile, there were three athletes still chasing the remaining two medals. Who would they go to? Johnson has enjoyed a successful winter cross-country season with a medal at the North East Championships. He was able to call on his strength to move back into the medals and claim second place in 55.01. He was closely followed by Barker, 3rd, in 55.13 with Gowland taking  fourth in 55.28.

The women’s race also looked to be a close affair as again, three athletes exited the water within three seconds of each other. This time it was Alnwick’s Emma Pearson who took the plaudits in 5.36, with junior Sarah Murray, 2nd in 5.37 and Darlington’s Michelle Scott, 3rd in 5.39.

But once again, the lead was set to change on the bike. Pearson, the European age group sprint gold medallist from 2010, held her lead until mid way through the bike as Ryton’s Jane Mooney moved ahead. Total Racing’s Kerry Gowland followed in 3rd, in the days quickest bike split (37.44).

Mooney’s strength is her running. A bronze medallist at the North East cross-country championships and a regular member of the North East cross-country team. It would be difficult to see how she would be beaten on the final 5k run. As five athletes virtually entered T2 together, it was Mooney who got away first and she did not look back. In the end, she scored a clear victory in 1.01.11. Pearson is also a strong runner and pushed on to hold 2nd position in 1.03.44. Natalie Batey, (pictured -Tyne and Wear Fire Tri) fourth at the end of the bike, moved into 3rd in 1.04.17 as One Life’s Claire Jackson followed for 4th in 1.04.45.

Full results can be seen HERE

Photographs will be available HERE soon.

Results (Abbreviated):

Overall (Men):

1. Alan Copland – RedVenom.co.uk – 54.17
2. Callum Johnson – Ryton Tri Club – 55.01
3. David Barker – Tri Northumberland – 55.13

 

Overall (Women):

1. Jane Mooney – Ryton Tri – 1.01.11
2. Emma Pearson – Alnwick Tri – 1.03.44
3. Natalie Batey – Tyne & Wear Fire Service Tri – 1.04.17

Prize Winners (Men):

• Junior – Callum Johnson – Ryton Tri – 55.01
• Senior – David Barker – Tri Northumberland – 55.13
• Vet – Alan Copland – RedVenom.co.uk – 54.17

Prize Winners (Women):

• Junior – Sarah Murray – U/A – 1.11.20
• Senior – Jane Mooney – Ryton Tri – 1.01.11
• Vet – Claire Jackson – One Life Racing – 1.04.45

On April 17, the European Duathlon Championships took place in Limerick, Ireland. There was a lot of success for the North East including a host of medals. Congratulations to the following athletes:

Women:

• Hilary Ross – Durham Tri Club – GOLD (55-59 years)
• Anna Turvey – Heaton Harriers – SILVER (30-34 years)
• Claire Jackson – One Life Racing – SILVER (45-49 years)

 

Men:

• Ross Landon - Cleveland Tri Club – GOLD (16-19 years)
• Brendon Jackson – One Life Racing – 23rd (40-44 years)

Full results can be seen HERE

Congratulations to Karen Poole of Cleveland Tri Club who finished as 1st overall female, and Philip Addyman of Ryton Tri Club who finished 2nd overall male, at the Borrowdale (Newlands) Duathlon on 17 April. The event has been growing in popularity each year and entrants came from as far a field as Edinburgh and Manchester. Ryton Tri also has Joe Horne competing and he finished in 18th place overall.

Race distances were an 8k trail run, 44k road bike and another 8k trail run. Full results can be seen HERE

The new triathlon season kicked off in style at the Peterlee Sprint this Sunday. Over 140 athletes made it to the start line for the 400m pool swim, 20k undulating bike and 5k multi-terrain run. Conditions could not have been any better – the sun was shining and there was little, if no wind. But that could only mean one thing – it was going to be a day of very fast racing and that was what we saw.

This event was also the first race to count in the Grand Prix series so naturally, athletes were eager to get their season off to a good start.

One Life Racing’s Phil Jameson, lead the men out of the pool in an exceptional, 5.06, making his intentions clear from the start. But Ian Staines of NE31 Tri Club followed closely in 5.19 as Tony Dixon of Hartlepool Triathletes rounded out the top three in 5.30.

Despite a strong effort from the early leaders, the lead was set to change on the bike. Ironman, Elliott Gowland of Total Racing Int, has been un-matched so far this season on the bike and he showed no signs of slowing down today. After the swim, he was just under 60s down of the lead. By the end of the bike, he’d turned that deficit in to a two-minute advantage (35.25). It was now Mick Proud (36.31) who followed him in to T2 in second place, with David Barker (36.04 – Tri Northumberland) in third.

On the run, athletes had to tackle a long climb up to the half way mark, so it would be interesting to see how that would affect the race. However, Gowland looked strong and pushed on (21.20). He held on to win in 1.02.44. Despite a late charge from Barker (20.42) he had to settle for silver in 1.03.23. Mick Golightly of Tyne & Wear Fire Service Tri also made a late charge came through for third in 1.03.35. For Gowland, it was two from two as he won at the Stokesley Duathlon just three weeks earlier.

In the women’s race, junior athlete, Kyah Hall of Ryton Tri, pushed out to a commanding lead in the swim in a swift 5.49. She was just over 30s clear of second place which went to team-mate, Diane Chaney in 6.24. Total Racing’s Kerry Gowland followed closely in 6.30.

All was set to change once again on the bike as the Ryton duo of Denise Parkin and Rachel Walmsley (who were close to two min down after the swim) – renowned for their strong biking, came to the head of the race. It was now Parkin (42.01) leading, ahead of team-mate, Walmsley (42.21). Gowland was also biking strongly and held her position in third (44.50).

With only the run remaining, the question was who had the freshest legs, as there was less than 50s separating the first two. And coming across the line first, it was Walmsley (24.40) in 1.14.42. Despite losing time, Parkin held on to second in 1.16.32 as Chaney came back strongly to take third in 1.18.16, making it a 1-2-3 for Ryton Tri. Like Gowland in the men’s race, Walmsley also made it two from two as she won the City of Durham Duathlon the week earlier.

Full results can be seen HERE. Photographs can be seen HERE.

Results (Abbreviated)

 Overall (Men):

1)      Elliott Gowland – Total Racing Int – 1.02.44

2)      David Barker – Tri Northumberland – 1.03.23

3)      Mick Golightly – Tyne & Wear Fire Tri – 1.03.35

Overall (Women):

1)      Rachel Walmsley – Ryton Tri – 1.14.42

2)      Denise Parkin – Ryton Tri – 1.16.32

3)      Diane Chaney – Ryton Tri – 1.18.16

Prize Winners (Men):

Junior – Nick Wooley – U/A – 1.19.32

Senior – David Barker – Tri Northumberland – 1.03.23

MV – Elliott Gowland – Total Racing Int – 1.02.44

MSV – David Bell – Tyne Tri – 1.09.06

Vintage – Don Shotton – Tyne Tri – 1.21.37

Prize Winners (Women):

Junior – Kyah Hall – Ryton Tri – 1.27.20

Senior – Sally Poxon – U/A – 1.22.09

FV – Rachel Walmsley – Ryton Tri – 1.14.42

T2 Triathlon is a brand new triathlon website containing news, reviews and interviews from the world of triathlon…with a twist.

Not only will we be interviewing and reviewing within triathlon but also swimming, cycling and running.

What is T2 Triathlon? T2 comes from the abbreviation of ‘Transition 2? (the change over from bike to run) and Triathlon…well, Triathlon! The worlds fastest growing sport that combines swimming, cycling and running!

We have a love of all things multisport so if you feel the same why not check out the website HERE

or if you have facebook, why not become a fan of the page HERE

A message from Rob Wilkins (Trihard)

Keswick Mountain Festival Triathlon Places Available.

There are 2 places in both the long and short races at the Keswick Mountain Festival Triathlon up for auction on Ebay. The places are being auctioned by the festival organisers with all proceeds going to the Festival’s chosen charity Nurture Lakeland. The auction is open now and closes this Sunday. Click HERE as it will take you directly to the action. Good Luck!

Start times and race information for this Sunday’s (17/04/2011) Peterlee Sprint Triathlon (the first triathlon of the 2011 season in the North East) can now be seen HERE

As with the previous Northern Pulse website, we are looking to change the homepage image every so often with pictures from local triathlon/aquathlon/duathlon events. If you have any photographs you might like to see on the homepage of the website, please email them at the address listed on the ‘Contact’ page. Perhaps you are a budding amateur or professional photographer who might like to get his or her work (tri/aqua/du) viewed on the website. Dont hesitate to get in touch with us!

A message from Michelle Scott

This years Teesdale Aquathlon event was another huge success with 66 starters and 66 finishers. It also helped that the weather was perfect and the new improved running course was a huge hit. Race distances were a 400m swim followed by a 5k run.

 I would like to say congratulations to successful prize winners and an even big congratulations to the first timers!

 Due to the new run course we now have two new course records that have been set:

The male record goes to James Wilson in a time of 23.05 and the female record goes to Halina Clare in a time of 28.25.

 Results can now be seen HERE

A photographer was also present at the event and photographs of the day can be seen HERE

A list of category winners can be seen below:

 Male Senior

1. James Wilson – 23.05

2. Gary Wilson – 24.29

3. Philip Jameson – 24.40

Female Senior

1. Halina Clare – 28.25

2. Ellen Tullo – 28.50

3. Felicity Beedle – 30.34

Male Vet

1. David Wilson – 24.44

2. Ian Pratt – 28.24

3. Doug Hutchinson – 31.46

Female Vet

1. Tracy Waller – 30.27

2. Louise Trainor – 30.53

3. Vicky Miller – 32.41

Male Junior

1. George Robinson – 25.00

2. Scott Fraser – 30.38

Female Junior

1. Sarah Murray – 30.31

2. Alex Smethurst – 33.03

3. Katie Cummings – 33.52